Echocardiography
Spring 2024
Spokane Community College
- 1810 North Greene Street
- Spokane, WA 99217-5399
- https://scc.spokane.edu/
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FallDegrees and Certificates
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View the program websiteProgram Description
Echocardiography is an Allied Health profession specifically concerning the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cardiac and peripheral vascular disease. The technologist performs examinations at the request or direction of a physician. Through subjective sampling and/or recording, the technologist proceeds with the examination to create an easily definable foundation of data from which a correct anatomic and physiologic diagnosis may be established for each patient.The primary role of the cardiovascular sonographer is to obtain recordings of ultrasound images of the heart and related structures for the physician to interpret. The various types of ultrasound equipment require a highly skilled operator to obtain the imaging information or other data required. The cardiovascular sonographer must obtain appropriate clinical history, cardiac-related physical findings, and pertinent laboratory data in order to adapt the imaging techniques to obtain comprehensive and diagnostic echocardiographic information. The Cardiovascular Technology Programs (Invasive and Noninvasive) are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee for Cardiovascular Technology (www.jrccvt.org). JRC-CVT 6 Pine Knoll Dr. Beverly, MA 01915-1425 (978) 456-5594. Students within the Echocardiography program are required to complete a six month, full-time clinical internship. As clinical space is limited in Spokane and the surrounding area, the student may be required to complete their internship in an out-of-town and/or out-of-area medical center.
Admission Requirements:
- ECHO courses are limited to students of the Echocardiography program
- Active email account required
- Appropriate math score
- Self-place into English
- A 2.5 grade in each prerequisite course is required and course completion should be no older than 5 years
- Admission to the ECHO program is competitive and based on a panel interview, prerequisite course GPA, additional math, science, and healthcare related coursework, quality of reference letters, and completion of 40 hours volunteerism in healthcare and cardiovascular ultrasound
- A 2.0 (79%) is required in every program course to proceed to the next quarter
- National background check is conducted prior to admission and 4th quarter of the program
- Immunizations, current healthcare provider CPR, and 7 hour blood borne pathogen training are required prior to clinical internship in the 4th quarter
- Selective clinical sites require a ten-panel drug screen within 30 days of clinical internship
- Return to the program is based on "space available" and requires remedial work to demonstrate knowledge base appropriate with program re-entry point
- After re-entry, students may only repeat a class one time. Repeat of courses must be completed within two years
- Computer skills are recommended
- Some students find completion of CHEM 120 Organic and Biochemistry for Health Sciences and CHEM 121 helpful to learning in the program
- Additional healthcare related courses such as HED 109, 129 or nursing assistant coursework
Program Learning Outcomes
- Perform high quality noninvasive cardiovascular tests on patients, while tailoring the examinations to bring out abnormalities present. Develop skill in performing m-mode, two-dimensional and doppler echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, exercise tolerance testing, ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring and pacemaker reprogramming and monitoring.
- Quantitate, subjectively evaluate and interpret data collected to assist the physician in arriving at a diagnosis.
- Develop clinical understanding of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of the major adult and pediatric cardiac diseases and deformities.
- Communicate effectively in a professional manner with physicians, patients and members of health teams.